Written Answers Tuesday 23 February 2010

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been successfully treated for oesophageal cancer in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Observed survival statistics for patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in Scotland in the period 2003-07 are shown in the following table, with "successfully treated" being defined as surviving for at least five years following diagnosis:

  Cancer of the Oesophagus (ICD-10 C15), Proportions of Patients Alive1 at One and Five Years2 following Diagnosis for those Diagnosed in 2003-07

  

Year of Diagnosis
Number of Diagnoses
Year 1 (Number)
1 Year (%)
5 Year (Number)
5 Year (%)


2003
812
269
33.1
54
6.7


2004
871
286
32.8
*
*


2005
822
297
36.1
*
*


2006
838
301
35.9
*
*


2007
830
297
35.8
*
*



  Source: Scottish Cancer Registry, NHS Information Services Division.

  "*" - Not yet available.

  Notes:

  1. Some patients may have died from unrelated causes.

  2. Follow-up to 31 December 2008.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22150 by Kenny MacAskill on 25 March 2009, what evidence led the Scottish Prison Service to move from the operation of drug-free areas in prisons to integrated treatment care and what evidence it has of the success of this approach.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  With the introduction of the 2004 Inclusion Policy, and following a series of critical incidents before that time, SPS moved from a punitive response towards a more therapeutic approach to drug use in prisons. Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s "Road to Recovery" policy in 2009, SPS are in the process of implementing a more integrated approach to the treatment and care of drug-using prisoners based on an extensive international evidence base contained in the "Orange Book" (a Government publication entitled Drug Use and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management).

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding of the 2008-09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use that 87.6% of adults who had used drugs in the month prior to interview reported that it was easy to get hold of the drug they used most often in that period, including 48.6% who claimed it was very easy, and what action it plans to take.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government works with the police to reduce the supply of drugs as set out in chapter 4 of Scotland’s national drugs strategy Road to Recovery published in 2008. In 2008-09 the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency seized 1011kg of class A drugs with a street value of over £43 million. In June 2009 the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce published Letting Our Communities Flourish - a national strategy to combat serious organised crime . This has been backed up by a £4 million investment in the SCDEA over the next two years to help fund a Scottish Intelligence and Co-Ordination unit and employ over 80 extra staff. As well as disrupting the supply we are ensuring that those who are instrumental in drugs trafficking do not profit from their allegal activities. That is why we are strengthening the powers available for the seizure of assets in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Gaelic Language

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s approval in 2008-09 of grants to the value of £3,055,082 out of its annual budget of £4,629,000 to organisations linked to members of its board.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government expects all non-departmental public bodies, including Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to have a clear process and approach to deal with conflicts of interest relating to board members. The Scottish Government’s expectations are set out in Guidance on Corporate Governance and the On Board, Guide for Board Members.

  The Scottish Government is satisfied that Bòrd na Gàidhlig has a sound and transparent process in place for the allocation and approval of grant to Gaelic ORGANISATIONS, and for dealing with the declaration of any conflicts of interest where Bòrd members may have relevant personal or business interests This includes a published register of interests and processes to ensure that bòrd members do not participate in discussions relating to organisations in which they have an interest. Audit Scotland concluded following its audit of 2008-09 that Bòrd na Gàidhlig financial statements were in accordance with any guidance issued by Scottish ministers including on conflict of interest procedures.

  I understand that the Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig wrote to the member on 17 January 2010 offering a full and detailed response to this question and has offered to discuss these matters with the member for the Highlands and Islands. The figure of £3,055,082 quoted in the question refers to provisional grant allocations over three years, and not annual grant allocation amounts. Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s total annual budget in 2009-10 stands at £5.459 million.

Gypsies/Travellers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it reviewed the local housing strategies for 2004 to 2009 produced by local authorities for evidence that equalities issues had been addressed and, if so, what information was obtained regarding the specific housing needs of Gypsies/Travellers.

Alex Neil: Communities Scotland assessed all local housing strategies submitted in 2004 for evidence that the particular needs of key groups in the community were being addressed and sought a further update from local authorities on progress in assessing and meeting the needs of Gypsies/Travellers in 2006. There was a strong focus in local housing strategies on plans to research the needs of Gypsies/Travellers and establish good consultation arrangements. Specific housing needs identified included the development of new sites and upgrading of site facilities.

Health

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30737 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 January 2010, in what six areas compliance by NHS boards with legal equality duties was most frequently identified as a concern in the NHS Health Scotland report, The Big Picture 2009: A review of progress on equality in the NHS in Scotland , and what the timescale is for addressing such concern.

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30739 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 January 2010, what baseline data the Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland has established in order to measure improvements in delivering equality of access to health services in the individual experience of (a) disabled people, (b) people from black and minority ethnic communities and (c) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of individual NHS boards to ensure compliance with legal equality duties. Compliance is monitored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

  The aim of the NHS Health Scotland report was to gather a baseline on the status of equality and diversity work in the NHS in Scotland. The report, based on information provided by NHS boards in 2008-09, reflected the position at that time. All boards received detailed feedback on their own performance against the indicators shown in the report and were offered support from NHS Health Scotland to address the areas identified as priorities. The status may have changed since the report was published.

  The full report is available on NHS Health Scotland’s website at:

  http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/3703.aspx.

Health

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30741 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 January 2010, what the views of the public involved in the work of the Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland are on whether its work is having an impact on patients’ experience of the NHS and when these views will be placed in the public domain.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Equalities and Planning Directorate involve the public at various stages of their work.

  Guidance developed for NHSScotland using the feedback and experiences of service users is available on the NHS Health Scotland website at:

  http://www.healthscotland.com/resources/index.aspx.

  Examples include Are you really listening?, Mosaics of Meaning and BME WRAP project report.

  The views of public partners were also used in the development of the Directorate’s draft equality impact assessments (EQIA) for example on the Translation, Interpreting & Communication Support (TICS) Strategy for NHS Scotland. The draft TICS EQIA was published on the NHS Health Scotland website as a public consultation document. The closing date was 29 January 2010 and NHS Health Scotland will publish a full response to comments from the public in due course.

  Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30741 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 January 2010, what specialist advice has been provided by the community and voluntary organisations with which the Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland established the 13 service level agreements in August 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: During 2009-10, community and voluntary organisations were involved in 8 of NHS Health Scotland’s equality impact assessment workshops to help identify the potential impact of certain areas of NHS Health Scotland’s work on equality. Organisations with particular expertise in areas such as race, disability and sexual orientation equality contributed to developing recommendations for these health improvement programmes and NHS Health Scotland’s corporate services. NHS Health Scotland will publish these recommendations for wider consultation by  March 2010.

  This is a new model piloted by NHS Health Scotland in 2009-10 and it is currently being reviewed together with the organisations involved so that community engagement and the quality of equality impact assessments continue to improve.

  Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30741 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 January 2010, what opportunities were provided to organisations across Scotland’s voluntary sector to secure a service level agreement with the Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Health Scotland promoted the opportunity to work with them on a programme of equality impact assessments through the Community Health Exchange (CHEX) newsletter, which is widely distributed to a network of organisations working in the field of community health. This was also highlighted directly to a number of equality organisations.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm the finding in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that NHS expenditure per 100,000 population in Scotland would have been about £180 million in 2005-06.

Nicola Sturgeon: According to HM Treasury Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis, the identifiable expenditure on health in Scotland in 2005-06 was £1,681 per head. This equates to £168 million per 100,000 population.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the finding in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that Scotland had 70 more hospital doctors than the north east of England in 2005-06.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the finding in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that Scotland had almost 50% more nurses per capita than the north east of England in 2005-06.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the finding in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that NHS Scotland employed nearly 75% more managers and support staff per capita than the north east of England in 2005-06.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the finding in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that the north east of England delivered 18% more outpatient attendances, almost 40% more day cases and over 50% more inpatient admissions than NHS Scotland in 2005-06.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion that only comparative statistics that could be measured in the same way were used to compare health issues in Scotland and the north east of England in the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the accuracy of the assertion in the summary briefing of the Nuffield Trust report, Funding and performance of healthcare systems in the four countries of the UK before and after devolution, that "In 2006, Scotland had the highest levels of poor health, the highest rates of expenditure, the highest rates of hospital doctors, GPs and nurses, and yet the lowest rates of inpatient admissions and crude productivity for hospital doctors and nurses."

Nicola Sturgeon: At a recent meeting between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), National Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD), the Scottish Government and the Nuffield Trust, ONS acknowledged there were errors in some of the source data on NHS workforce that was used in the Nuffield Trust report. This had been taken from UK statistical publications produced by ONS, with input from the four countries. However, workforce data had been lifted directly by ONS from the ISD website. These data were not comparable with the rest of the UK and this had not been picked up during peer review. ONS are in the process of revising this data. It also was agreed that the Nuffield Trust made comparisons of the four countries and over time using published data on hospital activity that was not directly comparable between the four UK countries, or through time, due to differences in the publication definitions. Nuffield Trust have said that they will consider whether they might revise their report and findings once revised workforce data is published and more comparable hospital activity data is made available for the four countries.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any inaccurate Scottish Government figures were provided or put in the public domain and used by the Nuffield Trust to make comparisons between health services in Scotland and the north east of England.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government did not provide or publish inaccurate figures that were used by the Nuffield Trust in their report. 

  At a recent meeting between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), National Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD), the Scottish Government and the Nuffield Trust, ONS acknowledged there were errors in some of the source data on NHS workforce that was used in the Nuffield Trust report. This had been taken from UK statistical publications produced by ONS, with input from the four countries. However workforce data had been lifted directly by ONS from the ISD website. These data were not comparable with the rest of the UK and this had not been picked up during peer review. ONS are in the process of revising this data. It also was agreed that the Nuffield Trust made comparisons of the four countries and over time using published data on hospital activity that was not directly comparable between the four UK countries, or through time, due to differences in the publication definitions. Nuffield Trust have said that they will consider whether they might revise their report and findings once revised workforce data is published and more comparable hospital activity data is made available for the four countries.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the analysis of the Nuffield Trust that the north east of England is a better benchmark for comparisons with NHS Scotland than England as a whole given its similarly sized population, similar levels of income, deprivation and unemployment and similar health status and life expectancy.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are some similarities between the North East of England and Scotland, in terms of population size, levels of income, deprivation and unemployment and health status and life expectancy. However, a comparison of Scotland with a Government Office Region of England will always have limited usefulness. For example, no Government Office Region of England is as sparsely populated as Scotland. The population density of the North East Government Office Region stood at 300 per square kilometre, versus a Scotland figure of 66 per square kilometre, both in 2007. In addition, vast areas of Scotland have a very low population density, and to a much greater extent than NE England. Another example of the limited usefulness in comparing Scotland with a Government Office Region of England is that the data used for comparison purposes will for Scotland include the whole of the health system, including headquarters and related infrastructure and staff, but may not necessarily do so in the English regional data. Country-level, system-wide comparisons may be more appropriate.

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that university staff responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Michael Russell: Universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for ensuring that their staff are fully equipped to undertake the duties that will support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). To ensure that universities are able to best prepare their staff, the sector is now represented on the CfE Management Board. In addition, Universities Scotland has agreed to develop an engagement strategy as CfE enters its crucial implementation phase. Universities are also involved in the distribution of CfE documentation and are involved, along with other key partners, in a range of support events for CfE, including a number of events planned for March on Building the Curriculum: skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S3O-9334 by Alex Neil on 28 January 2010, in what way the reduction in the number of housing co-operatives is "a direct result of the Labour-Lib Dem Administration’s efforts in 2001".

Alex Neil: Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 the then Scottish Executive decided to phase out the section 54 (Tax Relief) grant paid to non charitable housing associations, including housing co-operatives, to assist with corporation tax liability incurred on operating surpluses on eligible activities. This phasing out took place between 2001 and 2005. To mitigate the loss of grant housing associations sought charitable status and the fiscal benefits that status brings. Co-operatives were the only part of the RSL sector excluded from gaining charitable status at that time. Only 14 of the original 31 housing co-operatives registered in 2001 remain. The negative implications of the section 54 withdrawal has been a prime factor in leading to this reduction.

  Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with (a) veterans’ organisations, (b) housing providers, (c) local authority veterans’ co-ordinators or champions and (d) the Ministry of Defence regarding improving support for those leaving the armed forces to access suitable accommodation.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has regular contact with veterans’ organisations, housing providers, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Ministry of Defence on improving support for those leaving the armed forces to access suitable accommodation. This includes: 

  formal engagement, on a regular basis, with a range of veterans organisations to discuss housing matters;

  support to and participating in the Cross-Party Group on Veterans in the Scottish Parliament;

  regular dialogue between officials with veterans organisations, on a range of issues;

  discussing issues for armed forces and veterans with our Social Housing Allocations Policy Review Advisory Group which includes representatives from housing organisations including the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland along with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, and

  regular contact with the Ministry of Defence since 2008 to take forward commitments set out in The Nation’s Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans. For example, ensuring that eligible members of the armed forces and veterans, who have left the armed forces within the past year, or their widows or partners where a member has been killed in action, all get priority access to our Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) shared equity schemes.

  Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve support for those leaving the armed forces to access suitable accommodation.

Alex Neil: We are taking forward a number of measures, in consultation with the veterans community, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to support those leaving the armed forces to access suitable accommodation including:

  issuing a revised housing circular (HAR1/2009) to all social landlords in Scotland in February 2009 on "Housing for People Leaving the Armed Forces";

  bringing forward an amendment, through the current Housing Bill, to homelessness legislation which will allow service personnel to form a local connection through employment or residence;

  providing housing resettlement sessions in conjunction with the MOD’s Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO);

  working with the Ministry of Defence and Registered Social Landlords to ensure that Service personnel or veterans on low to moderate incomes who are thinking about buying a property are fully aware of the opportunities available to them through the Scottish Government’s Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT);

  developing a national housing options leaflet for those leaving the armed forces and ex-Service personnel to help them access the right information and advice to find suitable housing, and

  developing a new practical guide to social housing allocations. This will consider allocations as a whole but will also aim to support social landlords to understand and develop appropriate responses and partnerships to meet the needs of those leaving the armed forces and veterans.

  Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30167 by Alex Neil on 14 January 2010, what the timetable is for reviewing each local housing strategy to assess whether equalities issues have been addressed.

Alex Neil: The submission of local housing strategies is expected to be staggered between the middle of 2010 and the end of 2012 depending on the local authority’s timescale for preparing their development plan. Each local housing strategy will be reviewed following submission.

  Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many purchases for properties using assistance from the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme have fallen through due to buyers failing to secure a mortgage on the open market.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of (a) stalking and (b) harassment have been reported to the police and how many resulted in (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction in each of the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: There are no offences of stalking and harassment in Scots Law. Any such provable conduct reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service would be prosecuted as a breach of the peace. As a result it is not possible to say how may convictions there have been for conduct which could be considered stalking or harassment.

  The figures provided in the following table relate to breaches of non-harassment orders, however it should be noted that such orders can be breached by conduct which of itself does not relate to amount to stalking or harassment.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Police Recorded Crime for Breach of Non-Harassment Order Offences, 2006-07 to 2008-09

  

Offence
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Breach of non-harassment order (criminal court)2
36
34
24


Breach of non-harassment order (civil court)3
70
45
32


Total
106
79
56



  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Breach of Non-Harassment Order Offences1, 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

Offence
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Breach of non-harassment order (criminal court)2 
13
11
12


Breach of non-harassment order (civil court)3
7
12
11


Total
20
23
23



  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Breach of Non-Harassment Order Offences1, 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

Offence
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Breach of non harassment order (criminal court)2 
13
10
9


Breach of non harassment order (civil court)3
5
12
11


Total
18
22
20



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. 

  3. Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Poverty

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions and events it is planning as part of the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is actively involved in the National Implementing Body, set up to develop and oversee the UK Programme for the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

  The UK Programme provides a framework for activity, including UK-level objectives, and an outline of planned activities. There will be a series of events and activities across the UK, to be delivered at a local level. The National Programme, and details of delivery of the programme, can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/european-year-2010/

  The Scottish launch of the European Year will take place in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 22 March 2010. This event is being organised by the DWP in co-ordination with the Scottish Government.

  The Scottish Government website will be used throughout the year to advise stakeholders and interested parties about upcoming events taking place in Scotland.

  Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will report progress on its framework to tackle poverty and income inequality, Achieving our Potential.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to monitor the implementation of Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is of progress in implementing Achieving our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce a report on progress in implementing Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland.

Alex Neil: A senior-level Tackling Poverty Board has been established by the Scottish Government and COSLA to review policy and practice to reduce poverty in Scotland in the light of the additional challenges and opportunities created by the economic downturn and the developing experience of the Scottish Government’s performance framework and concordat with local government. Monitoring progress against the commitments set out in Achieving our Potential is part of the remit of the board. Papers associated with board meetings to date are published on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion. These and future papers will cover the work of the group in reviewing evidence of progress on Achieving our Potential.

  In addition, the overview commentary of the 2008-09 Single Outcome Agreement Reports has been published at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/SOA/OverviewComm2008-09AnnRep and contains a number of references to progress in tackling poverty and income inequality.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug finds there have been in each prison in each month since January 2007, broken down by type of drug.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following tables illustrates the number of suspected drug finds from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009.

  

2009 Establishment
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec


Aberdeen
13
12
15
5
10
9
8
11
11
8
21
11


Addiewell
0
15
46
10
13
16
21
20
22
23
14
28


Barlinnie
20
24
33
22
25
24
24
23
22
21
15
14


Cornton Vale
10
5
11
8
13
11
8
11
7
8
12
9


Dumfries
3
1
0
1
0
2
1
0
1
3
1
1


Edinburgh
19
26
25
15
17
18
28
16
24
17
21
29


Glenochil
13
14
9
9
14
22
17
5
7
6
9
6


Greenock
7
8
4
2
5
7
5
4
4
9
2
5


Inverness
1
1
1
5
0
2
1
2
5
1
0
0


Kilmarnock
13
20
19
19
27
13
13
13
10
12
12
19


SPS Open Estate
13
2
7
2
3
4
2
2
2
9
2
5


Perth
11
12
11
4
14
9
11
14
8
14
18
9


Peterhead
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0


Polmont
17
8
8
10
10
7
17
13
5
12
5
10


Shotts
5
7
9
15
10
11
10
7
11
8
8
4



  

2008 Establishment
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec


Aberdeen
8
0
2
4
4
1
11
12
11
15
11
8


Addiewell (opened 09/12/08)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Barlinnie
32
26
31
31
22
17
22
25
28
19
24
22


Cornton Vale
11
10
13
9
8
9
6
2
9
11
14
13


Dumfries
0
2
0
5
5
5
5
4
1
4
1
2


Edinburgh
30
27
34
28
28
31
29
18
20
28
25
18


Glenochil
8
17
15
10
9
11
15
18
4
7
11
8


Greenock
7
7
10
1
6
10
9
5
4
9
10
3


Inverness
1
1
1
3
0
1
1
1
0
1
2
2


Kilmarnock
17
18
22
23
16
14
24
12
11
12
8
18


SPS Open Estate
4
4
10
2
6
2
4
7
5
5
3
11


Perth
12
7
9
16
11
17
14
13
12
9
8
13


Peterhead
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0


Polmont
10
20
6
11
6
8
15
6
11
13
13
16


Shotts
7
17
3
15
11
6
10
5
13
7
10
6



  

2007 Establishment
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec


Aberdeen
2
6
1
1
3
4
7
10
1
5
6
4


Barlinnie
33
34
40
32
36
27
18
31
38
16
39
34


Cornton Vale
8
9
7
6
4
6
6
11
5
13
12
19


Dumfries
1
0
1
1
2
3
4
3
6
1
6
1


Edinburgh
9
15
8
12
16
23
16
15
18
21
25
26


Glenochil
10
5
10
6
10
8
8
20
17
15
19
16


Greenock
8
11
7
5
7
3
7
4
9
6
8
0


Inverness
0
3
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
3
2


Kilmarnock
17
16
20
7
33
11
19
16
13
12
18
22


Lowmoss (closed 31/03/07)
7
7
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


SPS Open Estate
6
10
5
2
4
3
3
4
13
3
4
6


Perth
11
17
21
13
8
13
11
13
7
11
5
9


Peterhead
2
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0


Polmont
9
5
17
10
7
13
4
8
12
7
6
11


Shotts
6
7
6
7
9
10
4
6
8
8
8
11



  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how drugs get into prisons.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: 

  Over the years prisoners have employed a variety of methods to introduce drugs into prison. Drugs can be brought in by prisoners’ visitors and passed in a visit room, sent concealed in mail or property intended for a prisoner, thrown over the wall, concealed about their bodies by prisoners at the time of their incarceration or brought in by individuals with business inside the prison.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of random drug tests carried out on prisoners in each of the last 12 months has been found to be positive, broken down by prison.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of random drug tests carried out on prisoners in each of the last three years has been found to be positive, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service does not carry out random drug tests on prisoners.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22150 by Kenny MacAskill on 25 March 2009, how many drug-free wings there are in each prison and whether it plans to increase this figure.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is one drug free area in HM Prison, Kilmarnock. SPS is in the process of evaluating the introduction of Addiction Support Areas in HM Prison, Edinburgh. It is run as a pilot project, housing prisoners who have a history of drug problems, who wish to distance themselves from this lifestyle and where treatment and care services can be concentrated to meet prisoner’s needs. Any increase in the number of Addiction Support Areas will depend on lessons learned from early work.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22150 by Kenny MacAskill on 25 March 2009, what evidence it has of the effectiveness of drug-free wings.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is no conclusive evidence as to the effectiveness of drug-free wings.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current timeline is for re-integration of Scottish Prison Service primary medical and nursing services into the NHS and who the new chair of the relevant working group will be when the current chair retires.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The current timeline, subject to legislation, for the commencement of the integration of prison primary medical and nursing services into the NHS is the autumn of 2011. The Chair of the National Programme Board for Prisoners’ Healthcare (NPBPH), Mr John Ross CBE, was appointed by ministers in March 2009 for a period of three years to oversee the transfer of prisoner healthcare to the NHS.

Special Advisers

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its special advisers regularly liaise with the press.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31349 on 22 February 2010 which provides information on the special advisers roles and responsibilities.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.